Method for modulation of effector organs
First Claim
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1. A method for modulating activity of an autonomically-innervated effector organ in a vertebrate being, the method comprising the steps of:
- identifying a spinal circuit between a spinal location and a return location of a vertebrate being, said spinal location associated with spinal efferent neural outflow to an autonomically-innervated effector organ of interest of said being; and
delivering non-varying, constant direct current to said spinal circuit between said spinal location and said return location for effecting trans-spinal direct current stimulation of said efferent neural outflow to modulate activity of said organ; and
applying a second direct current to a nerve providing neural control of at least one muscle associated with said organ;
wherein the activity of said organ is bladder function;
wherein modulating said bladder function is for treating a condition selected from the group consisting of urinary retention and urinary incontinence; and
wherein said treating urinary incontinence comprises anodal trans-spinal direct current stimulation at a spinal level of S2-S4 to decrease parasympathetic tone and said nerve is selected from the group consisting of pelvic splanchnic nerve and pudendal nerve.
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Abstract
Modulation of target effector organs in vertebrate beings using direct current stimulation for stimulation of spinal cord at regions of autonomic innervation, using direct current for peripheral nerve stimulation, by modulating central autonomic outflow and combinations thereof.
33 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for modulating activity of an autonomically-innervated effector organ in a vertebrate being, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a spinal circuit between a spinal location and a return location of a vertebrate being, said spinal location associated with spinal efferent neural outflow to an autonomically-innervated effector organ of interest of said being; and delivering non-varying, constant direct current to said spinal circuit between said spinal location and said return location for effecting trans-spinal direct current stimulation of said efferent neural outflow to modulate activity of said organ; and applying a second direct current to a nerve providing neural control of at least one muscle associated with said organ; wherein the activity of said organ is bladder function; wherein modulating said bladder function is for treating a condition selected from the group consisting of urinary retention and urinary incontinence; and wherein said treating urinary incontinence comprises anodal trans-spinal direct current stimulation at a spinal level of S2-S4 to decrease parasympathetic tone and said nerve is selected from the group consisting of pelvic splanchnic nerve and pudendal nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for modulating activity of an autonomically-innervated effector organ in a vertebrate being, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a spinal circuit between a spinal location and a return location of a vertebrate being, said spinal location associated with spinal efferent neural outflow to an autonomically-innervated effector organ of interest of said being; delivering non-varying, constant direct current to said spinal circuit between said spinal location and said return location for effecting trans-spinal direct current stimulation of said efferent neural outflow to modulate activity of said organ; and modulating central autonomic outflow of said being to said spinal location to affect said spinal outflow; wherein the activity of said organ is bladder function; and
wherein modulating bladder function is applied for treating a condition selected from the set of urinary retention and urinary incontinence; andwherein said treating urinary incontinence comprises anodal trans-spinal direct current stimulation at a spinal level of S2-S4 to decrease parasympathetic tone, said nerve is selected from the group consisting of pelvic splanchnic nerve and pudendal nerve, wherein said second direct current is pulsed, and said modulating central autonomic outflow includes application of at least one of the group consisting of transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, application of cold to a thermosensitive area of skin, and administering a parasympatholytic pharmacological agent.
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Specification